['Specialized Industries']
['Demolition']
09/20/2024
Copyright 2024 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.
...
The process of demolishing a structure has many foreseeable dangers but the true danger comes from the unexpected hazards. Without proper due diligence in planning, training, and ongoing inspections, foreseeable hazards become unexpected and uncontrolled events. Explosions, fatal falls, or a structure failure that traps employees inside are just a few of the possible outcomes of an uncontrolled hazard.
OSHA’s requirements for demolition span multiple standards and a variety of topics. These standards help employers plan, train, and provide the necessary protections for their employees.
Scope
All employers who are engaged in the dismantling, deconstructing, or wrecking of any part of building or structure are required to follow OSHA’s demolition requirements. These requirements apply to environments where demolition work is being performed and depending on the task, additional construction standards may apply.
Demolition projects both large and small have to abide by the requirements below. This includes tearing down an entire skyscraper as well as removing walls in a mechanical room.
Regulatory citations
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart T — Demolition
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart N — Helicopters, Hoists, Elevators, and Conveyors
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart O — Motor Vehicles, Mechanized Equipment, and Marine Operation
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart U — Blasting and the Use of Explosives
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC — Cranes and Derricks in Construction
- ANSI/ASSE A10.6 — Safety and Health Program Requirements for Demolition Operations
- OSHA Technical Manual (OTM) — Section V: Chapter 1 Demolition
Key definitions
- Blasters: The persons authorized to use explosives for blasting purposes and meeting the qualifications contained in 1926.901.
- Demolition: The dismantling, razing, destroying or wrecking of any building or structure or any part thereof.
Summary of requirements
Preparation.
- Complete an engineering survey prior to demolition to determine the condition of the structure to be demolished as well as adjacent structures.
- Demolition of special structures often have additional hazards. These structures include:
- Chimneys, stacks, silos, and cooling towers
- Prestressed concrete structures
- Monolithic structures
- Progressively prestressed structures
- Plan for emergency response and for fires. This includes a written fire plan, having fire extinguishers – an emergency communication system, and resources for immediate medical care and first aid.
- Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) such as:
- Eye, face, head, hand, and foot protection
- Respiratory protection
- Hearing protection
- Personal Fall Arrest Systems
- Other protective clothing (for example, cutting or welding operations)
- Shutoff utilities not needed for work and relocate and protect the necessary utilities. Shore structures that have been damaged due to flood, fire, explosion, etc..
- Test for and purge any hazardous materials or chemicals to eliminate the hazard prior to demolition.
- Barricade the area in which material lands when dropped from the chutes with 42-inch barricades set at least 6 feet from the chute. Provide falling object signage.
- Cover all floor openings. Ensure the cover can support the intended load and does not move accidentally.
- Protect employee entrances with canopies or sidewalk sheds that extend at least 8-feet away from the building and be at least 2 feet wider than the entrance.
- Close any building access not necessary for work.
- Train employees on identifying hazards, utilizing equipment and PPE, and how to work safely on a demolition site.
- Inspect and maintain all access points, ladders, stairs, and incidental equipment in clean safe condition.
Demolition.
- Minimize openings in the floor. They should be no more that 25% of the overall floor without lateral supports and when the floor is weakened by demolition operations, it shall be shored.
- Remove masonry in such a manner as it does not overload the floor it falls upon and all walls are supported during removal operations.
- Keep load bearing members until floor above it has been demolished.
- Use planks not less than 2 inches by 10 inches in cross section, full sized, and undressed shall be provided for and shall be used by employees to stand on while breaking down floor arches between beams.
- Storage of materials and debris should not exceed the floor’s intended load and shall be blocked off except for the removal of the debris.
- Dismantle steel construction by column length by column length and tier by tier (columns may be in two-story lengths).
- Demo with a demolition ball that is on a swivel-type connection and no more than 50% of the crane capacity. The boom/loadline should be as short as possible.
Blasting.
- Prepare a written blasting survey and additional site preparation to account for vibration and impact to other structures.
- Prevent accidental detonation by keeping ignition sources and restrict radio use near explosives with electrical detonators. Keep ignition sources at least 100 feet away.
- Ensure the selected blaster is competent in explosive handling and use. A competent person must always be in charge of explosives and should be held responsible for enforcing all blasting safety all recommended safety precautions in connection with them.
READ MORESHOW LESS
['Specialized Industries']
['Demolition']
Load More
J. J. Keller is the trusted source for DOT / Transportation, OSHA / Workplace Safety, Human Resources, Construction Safety and Hazmat / Hazardous Materials regulation compliance products and services. J. J. Keller helps you increase safety awareness, reduce risk, follow best practices, improve safety training, and stay current with changing regulations.
Copyright 2024 J. J. Keller & Associate, Inc. For re-use options please contact copyright@jjkeller.com or call 800-558-5011.